Page 13 of Midnight Witch

Color stained Mae’s cheekbones. Vlad leaned down and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

Nikolai’s fist tightened around the stem of his flute.

Abraham took another drink off a passing waiter and downed it with the look of a man who knew his evening was about to go from tiresome to migraine-inducing.

Vlad flashed Nikolai a mocking look before inspecting Mae’s knee-length, green sequin dress and matching high heels with a stare that lingered far too long for his liking.

“They suit you well, princess.” He touched her left earlobe lightly. “You should have worn the emerald earrings I gave you.”

Mae gulped. Abraham cast a worried glance at Nikolai.

Bryony leaned sideways toward Mae.

“He gave you emerald earrings?!” she hissed out of the corner of her mouth.

Mae nodded mutely. She bit her lip, her ears reddening.

Hellfire Magic flooded Nikolai’s veins before he could stop himself. His champagne started steaming. Abraham groaned.

Vlad’s pupils flared with redness as he narrowed his eyes at Nikolai.

“Seriously, you guys need to tone that shit down,” someone grunted behind them.

Nikolai turned.

Enrique Cortes was strolling toward them at the head of a party of sorcerers and witches, his dark tuxedo and slicked-back hair adding to his usual aura of menace. A red Macaw with intelligent, golden eyes and a smart, black bow tie was perched his shoulder.

CHAPTER7

Mae relaxed,relieved at the distraction. At the rate things were going between Nikolai and Vlad, she was worried the hotel would get destroyed before the reception ended.

“It’s good to see you again.” She eyed the Colombian’s outfit with a smile. “You scrub up nice.”

“Yeah, well, I have to wear a lot of monkey suits in my line of work,” Cortes muttered. “And black works best for blood.”

Several members of his party blanched.

Mae rolled her eyes. “Murder jokes, really?”

Cortes’s lips twitched. Surprise darted across his face when Mae pressed a peck to his cheek. The move drew the stares of every witch and sorcerer around them. A wave of murmurs broke out across the ballroom.

Abraham pinched the bridge of his nose. A lazy smile curved Vlad’s mouth. Nikolai sighed.

“What was that for?” Cortes asked Mae warily.

“You did that deliberately, didn’t you?” Bryony grumbled.

Mae put on an innocent air. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Bryony met Cortes’s confused gaze. “Congratulations. The Witch Queen just acknowledged you as the future High Priest of the Medellin coven.”

Cortes blinked. “Oh.”

His entourage fidgeted awkwardly where they hovered behind him. It was clear many didn’t appreciate this turn of events. Cortes cast a frown at them over his shoulder. They froze and lowered their gazes.

“What’d you do to them?” Vlad asked drily.

“Nothing I can repeat in polite company.” Cortes focused on Mae. “I have the High Priest position covered. You don’t need to go out of your way to help me.”

---